Yeah, babee! It’s that time again, time to ride, almost. Wouldn’t you know it, my annual trip across the marsh, swamp and bayous was pushed up a week so here we geaux.

This is when Donta Claus shines and drops off special, personalized gifts for outdoorsmen and outdoorswomen who have an impact on me and these outdoors pages. The Christmas-giving includes something for everybody, of course, such as hip boots, truly waterproof rain gear, trail cams, shotgun shells, fishing line, duck calls, landing net, camouflage clothing, ice chest and other essentials to fish and hunt in the heart of Cajun Country.

And Donta Claus sincerely wishes y’all a blessed and Merry Christmas.

Brooks Amy – Repeat Southcentral Fishing Association Classic victory after you and your crew win elusive AOY.

Jeneen Baquet – More rewarding outings to your piece of heaven in Kansas, as well as great LHSBN tournament finishes for “Doc,” Jarrett and Seth Switzer the last half of 2023-24.

Dr. Shawn Baquet – At least one Top 10 finish as captain in this Louisiana High School B.A.S.S. Nation season.

State Rep. Beau Beaullieu – Plaque honoring passage of your bill, HCR3, May 18. The law amends the rule to secure a self-clearing permit at Marsh Island Wildlife Refuge and Rockefeller Wildlife Refuge.

Dickie Broussard – Good holidays, good company and good health.

Danny Bulliard – Mechanic that gets the big Merc on the Ranger runnin’ right, WN Hawg Fights BTS win(s) next year and good health throughout 2024.

Will Chapman – This is the year – well, next year – fishin’ trip(s) with Donta Claus. Cross my heart.

Chris Courville – Limits of squirrels on remaining hunts in 2023-24, plus similar hunting success for your son and daughter, Landon, 16, and Remi, 9.

Malcolm Crochet – For a recently hooked, fast-improving outdoors shutterbug, breathtaking wildlife scenes whenever you take out the camera.

Brock Daigle – Homemade artificial lures that entice bass every trip with Hollis Daigle and Vincent Soprano, then a berth in the 2024 Bassmaster Junior National Championship.

Dusty Davis – How about another big bass while fishing with your boys in the Texaco Field, like the 7.2-pounder you caught Feb. 23? Only this time, Layn or Bowen get it and whoop it up.

Carroll Delahoussaye – A full year free of medical issues but full of biting bass and cooperative ducks and doves, all on trips with your buddy, Danny Bulliard.

Dr. Eric Elias – More awesome “Snapper Tapper”-like days with family and friends aboard The Megalodon, a 45-foot Hatteras.

Brian Evans – Goals, goals and more goals for CHS girls soccer in 2023-24, semis or more, and sac-a-lait in the ice chest with or without Donta Claus.

Dicky Fitzgerald – Five-peat AOY — yeah, one for each finger and thumb on your hand — next year for the four-time champ of the Louisiana Bass Anglers.

James Fredieu – Great days on the water for you and your son, Brodie Fredieu, with back-to-back wins like Feb. 25 in the Legends on the Lake and Louisiana Bass Cats Open.

Phil Haney – Double-digit bass on your hands in the spring at Toledo Bend. And zero health issues in ’24. 

Jacques Hebert – All the right moves and key bites for the Sea Mistress to reclaim its reign as top boat in the Iberia Rod & Gun Club Saltwater Fishing Rodeo.

John Hebert – Another 1 million pounds-plus grinding season at the LaSuCa factory in St. Martin Parish, then time to enjoy the outdoors in the offseason.

Johnny Hester – More Louisiana Bass Anglers tournament wins, including at least one more with Donta Claus.

Marlin Hebert – Accident-free start to the bass tournament season, followed by a run at AOY.

Donnie Hensgens – Quality time hunting with sons and grandsons while gettin’ a little more “Hound Dog”-ish.

Felix Jeanminette – Cooperative bream, sac-a-lait and/or bass and good health throughout ’24.

Shane Johnson – Tremendously successful speckled trout season as good as or better than this year’s when water and weather conditions were nearly perfect.

Keo Khamphilavong – Bucks worth taking a shot at the rest of this season and repeat AOY for you and crew in the SFA.

Tommy Lipari – Golden goose hunt(s) similar to the one in late November and a boat wrap job for Caleb Sumrall’s Xpress.

Chris Landry – LSU 33, Wisconsin 24 in the ReliaQuest Bowl. Geaux Tiguhs!

Kevin Latiolais – Successful search for a pristine cypress tree, a long, heavy “sinker” in better condition than the 21-foot, 7-8,000-pound log you recovered Sept. 8.

Bubbie Lopez – Breathtaking photo opps outdoors and sumptuous meals on your way to taking the LBA 2024 AOY away from your fishing buddy, Dicky Fitzgerald.

Matthew Louviere – As this newspaper’s new m.e., wisdom and fortitude to guide the print and online editorial product successfully into and beyond the mid-2020s. And a blessed year for you and your family.

Mike Louviere – Even more mojo throughout your bass tournament schedule, repeating this year’s results, and a top finish at the B.A.S.S. Nation Central Regional.

Matt Migues – Get the gang together again for another beatdown, a barrage of shots, just like Jan. 22, when you and three others fired 16 times in 30 seconds for one deer and five hogs.

State Rep. Blake Miguez – For the senator-elect, more Julianna “Addams” moments and mucho support to keep improving Acadiana and Sportsman’s Paradise.

Brian Moody – District title in girls soccer, then a deep postseason run for Catholic High School, plus another fishin’ trip with Donta Claus.

Henry Mouton – Enough gifs, anecdotes and news stories for the year. Keep ’em coming.

Brian Napier – Back to your winning ways with your son and buddy in the SFA.

Don Naquin – More good times during retirement, making memories in Georgia, plus beaucoup orders to keep busy with Desserts to Go.

Dennis Narcisse –Big Bass Splash that gives you another “hawg” worth $80,000. It’ll be hard to beat your 8.05-pounder Oct. 8 that won $2,000 plus a Phoenix.

Hunter Neuville – Good luck and tight lines in the next B.A.S.S. Nation Central Regional, plus great duck hunting in the second and third splits.

Mike O’Brien – “Hawg,” like this year’s 7.13-pounder, to go with a three-peat in the Louisiana Bass Cats Open, and big-bodied buck(s) lookin’ right atcha in January.

Keith Price – More moments like Oct. 7, the day your 7-year-old grandson, Owen Edwards, killed his first deer, a doe, in Natchitoches Parish.

Brad Romero – Return trip to Missouri with results similar to late November when you shot an 11-point, 250-plus pound buck. Add AOY in WN Hawg Fights BTS and/or local bass club.

George Romero – A shrimp boat. It won’t come close to replacing Our Pride, your 52-foot wooden vessel that sank Aug. 10 in turbulent Gulf of Mexico waters near Freshwater Bayou.

Gavin Savoy – Successful defense of the WN Hawg Fights BTS AOY title you and Austin Theriot earned in 2023.

Tee Roy Savoy – Biggest Jackie Savoy Memorial Big Bass Classic ever and full crawfish traps.

Johnny “Shake” Schexnayder – For the man who takes dining to the next level, at home and away, good health and great bassin’.

Brandon Sellers – After coming up short in two good runs at AOY in the Coteau Bass Hustlers and runner-up in the WN Hawg Fights BTS, a sweet AOY in a bass club or WN Hawg Fights BTS.

Jacob Shoopman – Well-deserved Papa of the Year Award, a new Ranger RT198P hull before Feb. 18, more post-Hawg Fight frozen lasagna suppers and a 1-year-old fishin’ buddy, Miller.

Joshua Shoopman – Non-resident fishing license for next year in the Atchafalaya Basin and photo collage of the seven continents you have now stepped foot on.

June Shoopman – Unlimited QT (Quality Time) to be with Miller Jude Shoopman, the grandest grandbaby of all … to enjoy a fav leisure time activity, including trip(s) to Biloxi … and to hook beaucoup bass in, around the Basin.

Mike Sinitiere – One or more “Hail Mary” bass like July 16 at Amelia, case of Welch’s Fruit Snacks, secretary to run your sideline biz and repeat AOY in the Louisiana Bass Cats.

Josh St. Germain – Quality Time, your boat, proves the family that fishes together stays together.

Ryan Sonnier – Brisk business at the bait shop and Iberia Outboard.

Ben Suit – A blissful Jan. 6 and happily ever after with Taylor Dean plus, of course, bass tournament wins on Louisiana and Texas waters.

Kevin Suit – Faster start in the Louisiana Bass Cats season and many bass tournaments like you had at Toledo Bend in October and Henderson Lake in November.

Austin Theriot — Bucks in the ‘scope, bass in the boat and bright future for you and Leryn Quintana.

Zach Suit – A well-deserved cheer on Melinda’s internship and y’all’s fourth anniversary coming July 24, as well as several cash-ins in bass tournaments, especially with ol’ “Mr. October.”

Caleb Sumrall – After a two-year absence, a return to the Bassmaster Classic in 2025.

Austin Theriot – Deer (“swamp donkeys”), ducks, bass and sac-a-lait, all there for your taking when it counts in and around the Atchafalaya Basin.

Chris Vedrines – Good health for all the Vedrines as well as a vacation as wonderful as Fall 2023.

Gordie White – Blessed and very Merry Christmas followed by a Happy New Year, then an entertaining Duck Wake, plus good health throughout ’24.

DON SHOOPMAN is outdoors editor of The Daily Iberian.